We’re a Carbon Positive and a Neutral Blog Now, Is Yours?

What a great idea! Now Ixpo and Stock Displays have set up initiatives to try and do something about all the carbon being added to the atmosphere by blogging…

WHAT? you ask…by blogging?

Well, according to Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD…

“Every blog that attracts 15,000 hits per month generates on average around 3.5kg of carbon every year – this figure is worked out according to a study conducted by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, who has worked out that an average website causes about 0.02g of carbon dioxide for each visit – so a blog attracting 15,000 visits per month contributes around 3.5kgs of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere per year. His study took into account the power consumed by computer usage, electricity hours and server cooler systems. Although 3.5kg’s a year doesn’t sound like a lot, when you consider that last February The Sunday Times reported that there was around 200m blogs in the world, it means that with an average readership of 15,000 hits per month blogs alone contribute around 700,000 tonnes of carbon to the atmosphere every year.”

And it couldn’t be easier to join in. All you have to do is add one of the ‘Carbon Positive Blog’ and one of the “Carbon Neutral” buttons to your page, and Ixpo and Stock Displays will each plant a tree for you. That’s it! You don’t have to make a donation or pay a penny, just add the button and Ixpo and Stock Displays will plant your trees!

Carbon Neutral Blogs is an initiative that has been set up by the guys at Stock Displays with the aim of helping to make as many blogs carbon neutral as possible.

The idea basically is that for every blog which mentions the initiative and adds one of these

buttons to their sidebar or footer, Stock Displays will plant a tree for them – making their blog carbon neutral.

It’s simple really, you do something for them and they something for you!

Read all about it here – Carbon Neutral and Here – Carbon Positive

We are a Carbon Positive and a Carbon Neutral Blog now, Is Yours?

Glamorously Green; Kaia Bamboo Cleansing Cloths

New-found glamorously green treat. And I thought I’d have to stick with plain ole’ cotton forever. Even infused with honey and essential oils! Woo Hoo! This is a fabulous find from mygloss.com. Thanks so much for this remarkable review. I’m buying one today!

I am in love with these bamboo cleansing cloths. They’ve provided a solution for a long-standing problem: what is the greenest and most effective way to remove makeup and moisturize when I’m on the road? When I use cleanser and facecloths, it seems so wasteful to just use the facecloth once -yet after removing a face of makeup, you really need to toss it in the laundry. Cotton or facial tissues just aren’t an option for me – to enter stage right, Kaia Cleansing Cloths!

They feel like cashmere, are infused with honey and essential oils, and are totally biodegradable. I’m sold and don’t think I’ll be traveling without a handy pack of these ever again.

Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths – $16.02 for a set of 30 at Amazon.com

No matter how late it is, or how tired you are before falling into bed…kaia natural makeup remover keeps it simple…
no rinsing, no water, no bathroom required!

Avoid that tight-skin feeling as kaia has been formulated with organic Canadian honey and infused with eight pure citrus essential oils, sunflower seed and cleans impurities with oats.

Yes, kaia really does remove mascara…even waterproof mascara without tugging and pulling!

If you suffer from sensitive skin, you know that the ingredients found in many “wet wipes” are not ideal! The beauty of bamboo is that it is very, very soft, unlike rayon (which is what most cleansing wipes are made from, and they contain wood fibers), which can be rough and can pull on the delicate skin in the eye area or cheeks.

For those with red/ irritated, inflamed skin:
kaia bamboo facial cleansing cloths are ideal for those suffering from Rosacea as the skin is fragile due to inflammation/redness and the cashmere soft cloths and gentle cleansing formula will not aggravate the skin.

Getting the most from your cleansing cloth is important as the cloths are packaged to last you an entire month: Use both sides of the cloth:

Step 1: remove your facial makeup first

Step 2: then flip the cloth over and remove lipstick and eye makeup last.

The cloth is 100% biodegradable so there is no guilt when you dispose of it…Oh and it is from a sustainable crop too…
bamboo is a grass and grows like a weed (literally).

Here’s the Ingredient List;

Ingredients
Water/Agua, Acacia Gum : derived from the acacia tree and is soothing to the skin, Xantham gum: naturally fermented corn sugar, Canadian organic honey : an emollient and nutrient with antioxidant and anti-microbial properties with the ability to absorb and retain moisture, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate: a food grade emulsifier used in baked goods, Cetyl Alcohol : a fatty alcohol from plant oils with emulsifying properties, Sunflower Seed Oil: the extract from sunflower seeds, a rich emollient high in linoleic and oleic essential fatty acids and vitamin E, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, extremely mild cleansing agent which is skin friendly and derived from oats, Panthenol: A moisturizer, derived from vitamin B5, with humectant-like properties that aid in skin absorption. Benzyl Alcohol : a naturally occurring essential oil with antimicrobial properties, Dehydroacetic Acid: Food grade preservative, which protects against bacteria and fungus, has an excellent toxicity profile and is non-formaldehyde forming, Salicylic Acid: Gently exfoliates the skin, reducing sebum build-up, Benzoic Acid: Food grade preservative, which protects against bacteria and fungus and occurs naturally in cherry bark, raspberries. Phenoxyethanol: Food grade preservative, non-formaldehyde forming. Benzethonium Chloride: Provides antimicrobial activity against fungi, mold and is a food-grade preservative.

America Wake Up; Replacing Dependence on Big Oil with Alternative Energies

America needs rehab, seriously. We are majorly addicted to oil and if we don’t change our ways, it will kill us, and our world. Let’s stop the greed, the passivity, the indolence; snap out of our stupor and get back to basics. Let’s use what we have to energize our world. Even our President has promised to help take on this giant, so let’s get involved.

“WHERE ARE ALL the “Save the Gulf” concerts? Where are the T.V. Benefits with celebrities and musicians giving heart felt speeches on the poor fisherman, wildlife, beaches, loss of income and sabotaged gulf economy? I find it rather strange how these people (including our own government) are so quick to help Haiti and other countries…but sit on their butts for this one.”

It’s time we woke up from our comfortable slumber and act. We really can make a difference if enough of us make noise. We all know the story of the squeaky wheel.

In the next 20 years, America’s safest solution is to invest the money it would have given to oil companies to drill off shore (and yes, they do get subsidies, so don’t say ‘what money?’), and invest in alternative energies. Not only would this benefit our country’s self-reliance, but create massive jobs, which we all know is much needed.

Read the rest of this article on how you can make a difference:

Here

new friends at eco friendly company

I’m always looking for new ways to help save our planet from being taken over by garbage heaps and I am pleased and proud to introduce you to a wonderful steward of our earth, one who is committed to raising awareness in the ‘green living’ venue :

Matthew Ludwig, who works with Jason Tunick at Factory Direct Promos  help companies promote their brands while raising awareness for the environment with unique eco friendly products.

Eco friendly reusable bags have seen their popularity surge in the past few years. They have a dramatically reduced environmental impact. As we move into 2010 it’s time to cut down on the 500 billion annual disposable bags we consume. Together we can help save this planet with every bag we reuse. As we head into a new decade communities need to continue to strive towards a solution and be proactive about setting an example for others.

Pass this on to anyone wishing to better their planet! and thanks for reading!

Essential Oils and other Natural Tips to Aid in the Prevention of H1N1, Swine Flu and Flu Viruses

I thought this was important enough to share…

Everyone should read this information on preventing the flu, swine flu, and H1N1 by using essential oils and following a few simple steps.

I think it’s so important to take good care of our own health and be responsible for our own well-being. By taking these simple steps, it could save your life!

1.      Wash your hands

2.      Use hand sanitizer

3.      Use a home/car/room diffuser

4.      Eat right, exercise and take a multivitamin

5.      Vitamin C

6.      Zinc

7.      Vitamin E

8.      Tea Tree steam inhalation

9.      Use these foods;

“(PRWEB) May 10, 2006 — A Biology teacher from Australia, named Stephen Jones, has done extensive research into the H5N1 virus and compiled a list of natural foods that are effective against it and listed others that are detrimental.”

Helpful foods:

• ·        Garlic
• ·        Green Tea
• ·        Apple Juice
• ·        Cranberry Juice
• ·        St. John’s Wort tea

Detrimental foods:

• Dairy products (increase mucous production)
• Bananas – increases mucous production.
• Honey
• Chocolate
• Echinacea
• Kimchi
• Elderberry juice
• Micro Algae (Chlorella and Spirulina)

References:

REad the rest of the article at; http://the-health-gazette.com/496/natural-antivirals/

Resources;

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/
(search using Pubmed ID number listed after each food)

_______________________________________

Also read this email from a Nature’s Gift Aromatherapy Blog;

Health Care Provider seeking Swine Flu (H1N1) guidance

Thought I would post (with permission, of course) an email exchange from earlier this week. (The title of this post is the subject line of the Email.)

Marge,So sorry to bother you again.
My husband and I are both health care providers, and both actually on the “front line” in emergency medicine. We also both work in emergency management. As such, we are both considered in the “high risk” group for both seasonal flu and H1N1. We also have 3 children, ages 17, 12 and 2 who will be considered in the “high risk” group for H1N1.

Because the peak for H1N1 is predicted for October, and the vaccine will be available in limited quantities in mid to late October, I am sincerely concerned about protecting my family.

I’ve attempted research in this area and have come across many essential oils for the prevention of H1N1 – Ravensara, Ravintsara, Cinnamon, Lavendar, Clove, etc., but am not sure the best way to use them to protect my family (diffuser, massage, inhaler,etc.). I have read that rubbing Ravensara on the soles of the feet every morning and evening will afford some protection, but am concerned about using it on the 2 year old and using it long term. I am also not sure of the safest oils to use to protect my 2 year old.

I have purchased Ravensara, Ravintsara, Thyme Linalol, Eucalyptus smithii, and the Flu Foil and Germ Beater blends, but any guidance you could give in their use, use of any additional oils or therapy, and duration of use would be greatly appreciated.

-”Because I suspect others might be pondering the use of Essential Oils to protect themselves and their families against the promised H1N1 epidemic, I thought sharing my comments in public might be appropriate.
……
First… as a health care provider, I’m sure you know that I can neither give advice, nor even suggest that the essential oils we make available could have any possible therapeutic benefits. To do so would leave me open to the FDA charging me with selling “unregistered drugs”…

having said that.

For the two year old I would definitely use the ravINTsara, not ravensara.. What I would do for your whole family (I’ve seen case studies where this was used in schools and the absenteeism rate plummeted)… I’d blend ravintsara into aloe vera gel…as high as a 10% dilution… 5% for the 2 year old, and use that as “hand cream” three times a day.

For the whole family… I would diffuse Flu Foil… or even use inhalers on a regular basis (ie, every hour or so, for you and your hubbie…or between patients.) I’d reserve the Euc Smithii for ‘cold symptoms’… it’s the best decongestant for the little one…and effective for all of you… best by diffusion, or a drop on the pillow case.

I’d use the Germbeater as a room spray, or occasionally diffuse it… keeping in mind that it is truly aimed at bacteria, rather than viruses..virii?? specifically.”

Ravintsara, Ravensara, Palma Rosa, Eucalyptus and Lavender are the oils used in Nature’s Gift FLU FOIL, but you could very well make your own blend by purchasing the separate oils.

And as for the Germbeater blend that includes the following essential oils:

Lemon Myrtle, touched with Tea Tree and Lemon scented Tea Tree, Ravensara for its antiviral potential, Cedarwood, Pine, Lemon Eucalyptus for molds and spores, and the powerfully germ killing Cinnamon Bark. This is not a blend to use on the skin, it will burn, and contains a known sensitizer. It is designed for the diffuser, or to be diluted into a room and countertop spray.

-cont.

“The thyme linalol would be a gentle and safe antibacterial for the little one, as well as the whole family. I suspect that, had you not already purchased it, you might find Thyme Thujanol a bit more effective, but you have the linalol on hand, so I would go with that.

I’d look at alternating the ravensara and ravintsara for the older members of the family…either by diffusion, or, as mentioned, in the Aloe gel… it is my personal belief that it would be a more effective anti viral than the antibacterial soaps you probably use in your practices.

I’d think about diffusing flu foil and germ beater alternately…

and I’d look at using one oil or blend for 3 or 4 days, then alternate with another… ie, perhaps ravensara for 3 days, then flu foil, then back again. I think switching off is better than always using the same oils.

hope some of this helps… you and yours are most definitely on the front lines and more at risk than the general population. GOOD LUCK… and I hope to hear come winter that you all made it through ‘flu season’ unscathed!!!

as you can tell, I’m not much on the theory that the oils should be applied to the soles of the feet OH..and neither cinnamon nor cloves should be used topically. We have them both in our germbeater spice blend… but I’d not use them other than in a room spray or a blend for diffusion.

hope all of this helps.

I would LOVE to post your question and my rambling answer on our blog with your permission…”

Posted by Marge at 11:16 PM

Labels: anti-viral essential oils, flu prevention, H1N1 virus, swine flu

1 comments:

Carol said…

This is such good advice. I am a second grade teacher and my principal will not let me use any oils in my classroom. I was hoping to be able to diffuse some blends. He is afraid someone will have a reaction and even if it’s not caused by an essential oil blend a parent might think it is and sue us. So, I can only use them on myself.
I am going to order the Ravintsara Oil. I didn’t realize it was better than the ravensara. Thanks again for your help!

Read more:
http://naturesgiftaromatherapy.blogspot.com/2009/08/health-care-provider-seeking-swine-flu.html#ixzz0StBdiALA

______________________________________

I think it’s so important to take good care of our own health and be responsible for our own well-being. By taking these simple steps, it could save your life!

What do you do to prevent sickness and promote your own well-being?

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Where to buy distilling equipment for making essential oils
• Organic Aromatherapy
• More on the Complex Chemistry & Constituents of Essential Oils
• 2009 H1N1 (Swine) Flu

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: alternative therapies, anti-viral essential oils, aromatherapy, aromatherapy tips, cinnamon, essential oils, eucalyptus, flu prevention, glossary, H1N1 virus, how to, information on natural ingredients, lavender, mind/body/spirit, natural, natural ingredients, organic, ravensara, ravintsara, swine flu, therapeutic grade, thyme

______________________________________

I think it’s so important to take good care of our own health and be responsible for our own well-being.

What do you do to prevent sickness and promote your own well-being?

Have you tried using essential oils or making any of your own hand sanitizers? or diffuser blends?

read my ehow article

How to make a non-drying anti-bacterial hand sanitizer

http://www.ehow.com/how_4772522_make-essential-oils-aloe-gel.html

TOXINS: FYI

Toxins:

Did you know?

*The cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than those whose water does not contain chlorine – US Council of Environmental Quality

*According to CDC – average adult has 148 toxic chemicals in their body- there are over 3,500 different chemicals that can be put in processed foods WITHOUT listing them

*- there are 6 million pounds of mercury released into environment yearly

*More than 95% of the 37 million chronic sinusitis sufferers is a result of toxic mold? (Mayo Clinic study 1995)

*Over 248 million pounds of industrial chemicals are dumped into public sewage

*More than 418 million pounds of chemicals were released into the ground, threatening our natural ground water resources

*Over 45 million pounds of chemicals were discharged into lakes and rivers

*More than 1 trillion pounds of air emissions were released into the atmosphere

*The grand total of chemical pollutants released into the US environment, in one year, was enough to fill a line of semi-trailers parked bumper-to-bumper from Los Angelos to Des Moines, Iowa

Things that make you go…hmmmmmmm

Psychic Fair @Mystic Alternatives

It’s almost here!
This coming weekend:
June 12-14, 2009
from 10am-7pm
Crystal River’s Mystic Alternatives will be having their Grand Opening!

Ok…..well, its sort of a Grand Re-opening and they’re calling it another Psychic Fair. The newly remodled store has had a facelift and is ready for its closeup! And what’s more fun than a fair?

Yellowstar*Essentials will be there bringing you loads of all natural aromatherapy products!
I’ve created some items especially for the celebration.

Made exclusively for Mystic Alternatives;
INTO THE MYSTIC…..
a mysterious and sultry unisex pure essential oil roll on everyone will love!

I’ve also created many new and luxurious aromatherapy products that are perfect for anyone looking to find affordable natural & organic products for mind/body/spirit/&home made with therapeutic grade essential oils and/or phthalate free fragrances. Most of our products are made with therapeutic grade essential oils which carry higher vibrations & frequencies than do their counterparts.

-Neroli Star Purefume (pure essential oil bliss…a one-of-a-kind purefume)
-Energizing Body Polish (body scrub)
-Citrus Blossom Moisturizing Body Spray
-Floralopeia Moisturizing Body Spray (Nectarine Blossom & Neroli…beautiful!)
-Whipped Body Butters (Cinnamon & Sandalwood and Nectarine Blossom & Neroli)
-Headache/Migraine Relief Roll on
-Aches & Pains Roll On
-Into the Mystic Roll On (made exclusively for Mystic Alternatives)
-Guardian Angel Roll On
-Happy Feet Soothing&Cooling Foot Spray
-Alert & PMA (positive mental attitude) Office, Car & Home Spray
-Caramel Apple Light Lotion Spray (phthalate free fragrance) last chance to purchase; item will be discontinued

Read more about these products here;

Customizable products are my specialty!

I do custom-intuited blends (with the help of the angels ) for a personalized/one-of-a-kind aromatherapeutic experience. We (you, me and the angels) find a blend just right for you and then you can choose to either use it as annointing oil or a purefume, or I can add to any number of natural cosmetic bases to create your own unique item.

I can make many types of products for your personalized blend including:

• annointing oils
• purefumes
• body sprays
• massage oils
• body butters
• bath salts
• salt or sugar scrubs
• sacred space spray (gemstone, Genesis crystals &Reiki charged water)

plus many other items…just ask, I can probably make it for you!

MORE INFO ON PSYCHIC FAIR:
Friday June 12th from 10am to 6pm through Sunday June 14th
from 10am until 6pm
and will be held at 560 N. Citrus Ave. in Crystal River’s historic downtown district.

Attending Vendors:

• Psychometry
• Tea Leaf Readings
• Vibroacoustic Therapy by Ki Consciousness
• Past Life Regression (Sunday only, by appointment!)
• Tarot Readings
• Palm Readings
• Intuitive Healing
• Chakra Balancing
• Rune Divinations
• Tattoo Artist
• Glass Blower

and lots more!

For more information, or to make an appointment for Past Life Regression please call the store at:
Local: (352) 563-0412
Toll Free: (866) 590-9921

Hope to see you there!

FYI:
Yellowstar*Essentials uses many YOUNG LIVING OILS!

Come join the fun and find some great deals!

Mystic Alternatives is located at;
560 N. Citrus Ave., Crystal River, FL
(352) 563-0412

Tea Tree Tested for Strep, Staph, Candida, Acne, Athlete’s Foot & Antibiotic

Tea Tree forest

I’ve been trying to spread the word about the multitude of uses for essential oils over the past 15 years and most of what I’ve heard from the medical community is…

There’s no way an essential oil could work as well as an antibiotic or common western medicine. Well, the scientists that have been conducting tests with all natural essential oils have been proving them wrong.

Essential oils DO work, for a multitude of ailments and only now are being accepted as a “maybe” for a viable replacement.

The widespread use of antibiotics has contributed to the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Now we’ve got bacteria that can not be killed by the typical antibiotic and the western medical world is having to look for alternatives.

Bacteria that are resistant to penicillins, vancomycin, and other antibiotics can cause life-threatening wound infections, primarily in hospitalized patients. There is a critical need to develop new antibiotics with new mechanisms of action.

Tea tree oil and manuka oil are natural substances that appear to be good candidates for the development of new antimicrobial products.

This article provides a thorough review of the evidence for a role of these oils in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

However, the experimental conditions and the mode of administration of the oils are not always described. It is not clear how much of the evidence is based on test tube studies and how much is based on topical application of the oils in animal or human subjects.

TeaTreeforest

Review of Tea Tree Oil and Manuka Oil

-Reichling J, Weseler A, Landvatter U, Saller R.

Bioactive essential oils used in phytomedicine as anti-infective agents: Australian tea tree oil and manuka oil. Acta Phytotherapeuitca. 2002;1:26-32.

tea tree blossoms

Australian tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree that grows in the subtropical coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

New Zealand tea tree oil, better known as manuka oil, is made from the leaves and young branches of the manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium).

Both Manuka and Tea Tree oils are known to have antimicrobial properties and are used in a variety of products applied to the skin.

Australian tea tree oil is widely used in skin creams, body lotions, shampoos, and oral hygiene products. It is also used medicinally to treat skin ulcers and infections.

Manuka oil is used in a skin cream to treat sores on the feet. The purpose of this article was to review the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects of these oils for human and veterinary use.

The essential oils from the Australian tea tree and New Zealand manuka tree contain different compounds and display different antimicrobial activities.

Tea tree oil contains primarily monoterpenes, with terpinen-4-ol as the main component. Tea tree oil contains only small amounts of sesquiterpenes.In contrast, the dominant components of manuka oil are sesquiterpenes. Manuka oil contains only traces of terpinen-4-ol.

Tea tree oil shows activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. These include the human pathogens;

Escherichia coli and various Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Tea tree oil inhibits the growth of the fungus Candida albicans, the culprit in common yeast infections, and other fungi that cause athlete’s foot infections.

It also inhibits the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium implicated in acne. A clinical study found that a gel containing 5% tea tree oil was as effective as a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, the established treatment of acne vulgaris.

Tea tree oil may be useful against skin and ear infections in dogs and cats, because it inhibits the growth of the common fungus Malassezia pachydermatis (some caution is warranted when treating animals with tea tree and other essential oils as cases of toxicosis have been repeatedly reported by veterinarians when the oil was applied topically to dogs, cats, and birds. In most cases, the oil was used to treat dermatological conditions at inappropriate high doses.

The typical symptoms of toxicosis observed were depression weakness, uncoordination, and muscle tremors. In the majority of cases, treatment of clinical signs and supportive care have been sufficient to achieve recovery free from pathological conditions within several days.1

Manuka oil has antimicrobial activity against a more limited range of organisms than tea tree oil. It is largely ineffectively against Gram-negative bacteria. However, the investigated Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to manuka oil at lower concentrations than tea tree oil. A â-triketones-enriched manuka oil inhibited the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium implicated in stomach ulcers, more effectively than tea tree oil.

—Heather S. Oliff, Ph.D.

Reference
1Refer Villar D. et al., “Toxicity of melaleuca oil and related essential oils applied topically on dogs and cats,” Vet Human Toxicol. 1994;36(2):139-142).

American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Phone: 512-926-4900 | Fax: 512-926-2345
Website: www.herbalgram.org | Email: American Botanical Council

Melaleuca forest

There are numerous tests being done everyday to further enhance the reputation of the natural healing qualities of essential oils to prove once and for all that they really do work, and could benefit us in so many ways.

The natural world is full of wonderful healing medicine……

Eco-Friendly “Green” Laundry Tips

Natural Laundry Tips

I love finding new a different ways to use essential oils and am always looking for new applications for them. They truly are little miracles and have helped me be so much more eco-friendly and ‘green’ than I ever thought possible.

You can help your laundry “go green” along with the rest of your household by creating simple laundry products in your own kitchen.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Softener;

A simple laundry softener can be made from 1 part Borax and 2 parts Baking Soda, and can be scented with natural Essential Oils, or left unscented.  Toss one or two tablespoons of this simple powder into your wash to help soften and fragrance your clothing and linens.

Mountain Rose Herbs is one of those suppliers I always return to for their consistently high quality stock of ingredients. They have wonderful hydrodols/distillates which can be used for a multitude of purposes.

Scenting Clothes Naturally; Ironing with Hydrosols

Certain Hydrosols make great Linen Waters too. Neroli Hydrosol, Lavandula Hydrsosol, or Rose Hydrosol can be used while ironing to add a touch of gentle, all natural fragrance to your clothing.  Ironing with Hydrosol is best reserved for dark fabrics, but all fabrics should be tested with a little Hydrosol prior to use as Hydrosols can stain certain fabrics.  Since Hydrosols can vary from batch to batch it is important to patch test your fabric every time to avoid accidental staining, even if you have used a particular type of Hydrosol for this purpose in the past.

Scenting Clothes in the Dryer;

Another easy way to scent your laundry with natural Essential Oils is with your dryer.  Add just one drop of Essential Oil (Lavender is a great choice) to a cotton ball, and seal it inside a Muslin Bag. Toss the Muslin Bag into the dryer along with your wet laundry.  The scent of the Essential Oil will quickly fill the Dryer with aroma, leaving just the right amount of scent on the laundry.  Be careful to choose an Essential Oil that is safe for the entire family, and to never use more than one or two drops per load.

An even greener step would be to skip the dryer all together and hang your clothes out on a clothesline to dry and soak up all the fresh air and sunlight. (p.s. sunlight kills germs and freshens clothes naturally!) You could always spray them with a hydrosol for a little added scent while hanging out to dry.

I hope you find a way to use essential oils in your ‘green’ home!

Here’s to the natural beauty workshop for your tips; thanks for the great info!
http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/

___________________________

Natural Cleaning Products to Purchase

If you’d rather not spend the time making your household cleaners,  a blog I recently came across had a nice list of natural alternatives;

Green Works seems to take the cake for this and seems to be liked well by most who’ve tried it and also offers a large selection of products; Green Works.

All of these products are made with all natural ingredients, all biodegradable.

Frankly Green put up a list of a lot of other environmentally-friendly brands that also:

• Ecover – Dishwashing, Laundry, Household, Personal Care
• Seventh Generation – Dishwashing, Laundry, Household, Personal Care, Baby, Paper
• Shaklee – Dishwashing, Laundry, Household
• Mountain Green – Laundry and Household
• Method – Dishwashing, Laundry, Household
• Nellie’s Laundry Products – Laundry
• Mrs. Meyers – Household, Laundry, Pet
• Ecos – Household, Laundry, Personal Care, Pet
• Dr. Bronner’s – Soaps and Body Care
• biokleen – Dishwashing, Laundry, Household
• Mrs. Meyer’s worked really well, and they come in cute bottles with great scents.

Thanks to the family green wordpress blog for this great list!!!

http://thefamilygreen.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/cleaning-with-environmentally-friendly-products/

DIY distillers and where to buy distilling equipment for making essential oils

Mini Still Full View

Have you ever wanted to distill your own essential oils instead of spending loads of $$ on buying them? Especially when some are diluted and therapeutically speaking, not worth the price.

Yes, there are reputable companies out there who consistently offer top of the line essential oils, but their prices reflect this and wouldn’t it be great to know exactly where that essential oil you’re using comes from?

By home distillation, you can control exactly how the plants/flowers/etc. are grown, tended and what products are used or not used in their raising. (i.e. pesticides, herbicides, etc.)

separating can where final oil separation and capture happens

I’ve always dreamed of trying my hand at home-distillation. On ‘Serenity Acres’ (our cute one acre property), is loaded with flora of all types and is prime for distilling.

We’ve got grapefruit, tangelos, calamondin (calamandrina’s), bitter orange (best for NEROLI!!–my fave!), oakmoss, echinacea (purple coneflower), gardenia, wild roses, calendula, lemongrass, camphor trees, and loads more! I could stay busy all year!

Wouldn’t it be great to have fresh grapefruit and tangelo essential oil? And omg…neroli (from the bitter orange blossom)!..which also means petitgrain (from the leaves/twigs of bitter orange tree)….oh, I’m too excited! Wish I could afford one!

UPDATE: all our citrus trees were frozen in the past two winters (we had two weeks of around 19 degrees) and that just did the poor trees in. I can’t believe Florida can get so cold! So, hopefully we can get some of those fine citrus trees again, but until then, I’ll have to play with the plants that made it through the freeze.

One of these days I’ll have saved enough to purchase my own distiller, so needless to say, I’ve looked around a lot. I’ve found many distillers on the net and most are quite expensive for the hobbyist.

If anyone has made their own distiller, or has tips on where they found a great deal on one, please email or comment I’d love to hear what worked for you!

I did find some that look promising, both in price and value:

Here’s a list of what’s for sale on EBAY for e.o. distillation

GREAT VARIETY of distillation equipment here

or see more below

AnnapolisHomebrew; distillers & distiller parts (from alcohol distilling site)

Item #62010

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StillSpirits Airstill

The AirStill is a self-contained, electrically heated and air-cooled distilling machine. No external heat source or cooling water is required.

After one hour warm-up time, production rate is approximately one liter per hour.

IMPORTANT: StillSpirits distilling equipment is sold in the United States for the purposes of water distillation, and the production of essential oils and herbal extracts.  These uses are legal in all 50 states.  No other alternative should be inferred because none is implied. Home distilling in the United States is illegal, and committing this offense could bring about criminal penalties.
Price: $239.99

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from China:

Portable Table Top Essential Oil and Hydrosols Distiller

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cool blog post about home distillation:

Essential Oil Distillation & Other Tuesday Night Projects

So apparently my kitchen is turning into a bit of a chemistry lab. What are all of those beakers and hoses you ask? Why, it’s a steam distiller, of course!

I will continue to update this post if I find a better deal on distilling equipment.

Please let me know if you’ve found a better one!

thanks

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1. How to Make Essential Oils: 20 Steps – wikiHow

   http://www.wikihow.com › … › Alternative Health › Aromatherapy

   While essential oils can be very expensive to buy, they are relatively cheap to distill at home. This guide provides basic instructions on how to extract the oils …

2. Essential oils home made – steam distillation of geranium oil …

   ► 9:11► 9:11

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDojS7PWWPY

   Dec 25, 2011 – Uploaded by Jason Lye

   Kitchen chemistry from Jason – Steam distillation used to isolate essential oils from geranium. You can find the …

3. Essential Oil Home Distillation Kit – YouTube

   ► 1:28► 1:28

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y62W7pzyu2E

   Aug 21, 2012 – Uploaded by OilExTech

   OilExTech, LLC is introducing their new product line the “EssenEx-100″ (patent pending). The EssenEx allows …

4. More videos for distill essential oils at home »
5. Make Essential Oils At Home – Squidoo

   http://www.squidoo.com › … › Alternative Medicine › Aromatherapy

   Jump to Collecting Your Oil Once It’s Distilled‎: Separating oil from water. Once you have distilled a beaker of fragrant water, and you have …

6. Essential Oils – Home Distillation of Alcohol (Homemade Alcohol to …

   homedistiller.org/flavor/oils

   I have no personal experience in essential oil distilling except where I have distilled crushed aniseed, orange peel and lemon peel as part of the wash in a reflux …

7. How to Make an Essential Oil Distiller | eHow.com

   http://www.ehow.com › Beauty & Personal Care

   Essential oils have been used for centuries to aid in everything from stress to skin … you can make your own essential oil distiller right in your own home. … This container will capture the essential oil once the distillation process is complete. 13 …

8. Small scale home distilling of essential oils – Orangeblossomfarm …

   orangeblossomfarmgreece.blogspot.com/…/small-scale-home-…

   Jan 16, 2013 – Now that winter has come, I have eventually found some time to post a few pictures of last summers essential oil distilling project. With the help …

9. Essential Oil Making: Home Distillation – HubPages

   hubpages.com › … › Herbal Remedies

   Aug 18, 2011 – Distillation is the most common method of essential oil extraction used at home. It is a good thing that numerous home distillation kits are now …

10. Essential Oil Distillation | Extract Your Own Essential Oils 6 minutes

    oilextech.com/

    Home and Lab Microwave Essential Oil Extraction Kits and Essential Oil Distillation | Extract Your Own Essential Oils in 6 minutes.

11. ESSENTIAL OIL Steam Distillation Steam Distiller – HeartMagic

    http://www.heartmagic.com/EssentialDistiller.html

    All glass (pyrex) essential oil steam distiller apparatus for essential oil steam distillation extraction and purifying at home.

Searches related to distill essential oils at home

how to distill essential oils

how to make essential oils at home

DIY making your own essential oil distillery

also, check out these cool articles I found:

How to Make an Essential Oil Distiller By CindyM (Ehow)

Things You’ll Need

• 2 clean plastic milk jugs
• ¾-inch copper piping
• Metal tea kettle with no opening at the top
• Rubber stopper
• Ice
• Liquid sealant
• A drill and 3/4 (19mm) drill bit
• Plant material
• Tennis ball can
• Meat thermometer
• Glass container

Instructions

1. • Take the first milk jug and drill a hole in the lid large enough to just fit the copper tubing. Drill another hole near the bottom of the jug.

   • Cut the top off the second milk jug and drill a hole in the bottom large enough to fit the copper piping through.

   • Cut the copper tubing. You will need one piece long enough to run from the kettle stopper to the first milk jug. The second piece will run from the first milk jug to the second and coil through it.

   • Coil the one piece of copper piping seven or eight times around the tennis ball can. Leave one end long enough to travel from the first milk jug to the second. The other end should be straight and left just long enough to exit the second milk jug.

   • Put the stopper in the tea kettle and poke the meat thermometer through.

   • Get a 3/4-inch (19 mm) drill bit, to drill a hole in the stopper.

   • Fill your first milk jug with your plant material and screw on the lid.

   • Put one end of the straight copper pipe through the tea kettle and put the other end through the lid of the first milk jug.

   • Take the coiled piece of copper pipe and place the long straight end into the hole at the bottom of the first jug. Place the coiled portion of the copper pipe into the second milk jug. Run the other straight end out the drilled hole. Feed enough pipe through to reach your glass container which will hold the oils produced from your essential oil distiller.

   • Seal all the openings of your essential oil distiller with sealant.

   • Fill the second jug with ice water. This will cause the vapor to condense.

   • Place the glass container under the copper pipe running out of the bottom of the second milk jug. This container will capture the essential oil once the distillation process is complete.

   • Fill the kettle with water and place it on the stove on high heat.

   • The water will begin to boil and cause steam to penetrate the plant material. This steam will, in turn, capture the essential oils. The copper piping through the ice will cool the steam and separate the oils from the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Drying your plants beforehand will increase the yield of each batch as you can fit more dried plants into the milk jug at one time.
• Let plants dry naturally out of the direct sun.
• Do not let the temperature of the water exceed 175 degrees F or your water will evaporate.

Other People Are Reading

• How to Make an Essential Oil Distiller from Kitchen Equipment
• About Essential Oil Distillers

And another one:

 

How to Make Your Own Essential Oil Distillery

Written by contributing writer

Make your own essential oil distillery. This is as simple a still as you can make without spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on a mini-distillery. Most of the items in the still we will build can be bought at a second-hand store for only a few dollars. Distillation is a method of separating chemicals (in this case, an essential oil) by boiling into steam and cooling that steam into a liquid. To isolate essential oils, heat up plant material (usually flowers) and cool the steam that comes from the plants so it becomes a liquid called the essential oil.

Instructions

Things you need

• Liquid water
• Plant material
• Large pot (base only)
• Wok
• Large lid (flat but slightly domed)
• Jar with lid
• Ice

1. Place the largest pot you can find on the hob. Fill this pot 2/3 full with water. Any pot that is deep and can hold a lot of water will work.

2. On top of this pot, place a wok so that it is seated above the water. If a wok is not available, use any pan that can sit on top of the pot. A wok is ideal since it is thin enough to transfer the heat and will sit nicely on top of any size pot.

3. Fill the wok halfway with fresh plant material. This can be any type of material from which you wish to extract oil. You can use the stems, leaves, flowers, fruit peels, even the roots. Any plant will do but beware that some plants and plant parts are toxic. Do not assume that the oil is good for you simply because it is “natural.” Do not cut the plant more than absolutely necessary, for highest yield.

4. Place an empty jar in the centre of the plant material with the open mouth up. Make sure that the jar is absolutely clean since this is where you will collect your essential oils.

5. Place a metal lid on the wok. This lid should be wide enough to cover the wok. It should be a fairly flat lid with a slight dome to it. It should be able to fit in the wok with the handle side going into the wok so that the part normally facing the pan is facing the ceiling. The idea is to let the steam condense on the inside since the outside of the lid is cooler. The oil will cool and condense on the inside part of the lid and will run down the domed part to the handle in the centre. At the centre it will drip into the jar. This is called distillation.

6. Assuming that the lid does not leak at the knob/handle above the jar, pour cold water into the lid on top and drop in a few ice cubes. This will speed up the process of distillation.

7. Turn on the stove, and boil the water in the pot. As long as there is water in the pot, the apparatus can keep going. The time depend on the type of material you are using, as thicker material will take longer to extract oils from. For extracting oils from flowers, it takes at least 2 hours to get everything out of the plant, depending on the boiling point of water at your elevation. The higher you live above sea level, the longer it will take. Check the water level periodically, being careful not to burn yourself. If the water starts to run low, add more water.

8. After everything is cooled down, remove the jar from the centre of the plant material and put a lid on it.

Tips and warnings

• Baby food jars are the best to use as collecting jars because they have a wide mouth, are small, and close airtight.
• Make sure that the apparatus (the distiller) is stable and that steam/hot water do not escape in a way that can burn you. Do not touch the apparatus while it is hot. Do not let the apparatus get to the point that it runs out of water. Do not lift the lid at the top while cooking since it is not healthy to inhale that much essential oil. If there is ice in the upside down lid, it may be safe to touch (on some parts) but steam escaping from underneath the lid when raised may still be dangerous.
• Do not assume that all oils obtained this way are safe since certain plants may have poisons that can become concentrated in this manner. Stick with edible plant parts for a safer experience.

Resources

• Portable Table-Top Essential Oil Distiller
• Essential Oil Steam Distillation Kit